Unesco's Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects goes live

"Unesco has this week launched its Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects which, using the United Nations (UN) cultural body's database of thousands of looted artefacts, reconstitutes and presents objects in 3D form. The initiative was launched on 29 September at Unesco's World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development in Barcelona. The virtual museum is designed by the Burkinabe9 architect Francis Ke9re9 and funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

"Unesco, which first announced the initiative in 2022, says in a statement: "The museum was developed in response to the call of [UN] member states for a coordinated strategy to raise awareness on illicit trafficking." The project was designed in collaboration with The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol). "Unesco's 1970 Convention calls on signatory states to combat the illicit trade in cultural property-a market that Interpol warns is increasingly dominated by organised criminal networks," the statement adds."

A Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects was launched on 29 September at UNESCO's World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development in Barcelona. The platform uses the United Nations database of thousands of looted artefacts to reconstitute and present objects in 3D. The design is by Burkinabe9 architect Francis Ke9re9 and funding was provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The project was developed with INTERPOL and aligns with UNESCO's 1970 Convention to combat illicit trade in cultural property. Galleries include an auditorium, a stolen objects timeline, and a return and restitution room documenting recoveries and repatriations.

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